Located
near Scotch Creek on the sunny
North Shuswap, the Adams River is rich
with First Nations history. Trails along the river harbour ancient pictograph
locations and numerous winter pit house dwelling sites. The Adams River
is renowned as the world's largest sockeye salmon run. Every October
scores of crimson sockeye make the gruelling 500 km journey back from
ocean to their birth grounds, the crystal clear water of the Adams.
Every 4 years (2006, 2010...) is a dominant year with the river turning
red with a spectacular display of a few million spawning salmon. It
is a sight to behold and a resource worth protecting. The lower Adams
River is fully encompassed within Roderick
Haig-Brown Provincial Park, offering a safe haven for the salmon
and a variety of wildlife.

Since 1983
commercial rafting has provided whitewater adventure for folks of all
ages and abilities. The rapids are rated as moderate, with highlights
such as 'The Weir', The Ender Waves', and most memorable, the nozzle
like canyon 'The Gorge'! In summer, the water warms up, making the Adams
possibly the warmest whitewater in the province.

The Thompson
River, like the Fraser, starts its flow to the Pacific in the Rocky
Mountains near the BC/Alberta border. However, the two rivers take completely
different paths as they cut their way through the harsh mountainous
terrain. The Thompson, which is 489 km. (303 mi.) long, flows south
and west into the interior and joins the Fraser River at Lytton.

From its
headwaters until it reaches Kamloops,
the Thompson River, is the North Thompson. The South Thompson flows
from Shuswap Lake to Kamloops, where the two join to form the Thompson
River that flows to Lytton and the Fraser. This is the canyon
section of the Thompson River that is famous for river rafting.

From Kamloops
to Lytton, dry barren terraces and bench lands flank the Thompson River.
Green-blue waters rush through this section forming rapids, back eddies,
standing waves, haystacks and whirlpools that make for excellent river
rafting. A rafting trip down the Thompson includes such thrills as the
rapids of the Frog, the Devil's Kitchen, and the Jaws of Death. Most
river rafting tours start at Spences
Bridge and head down to Lytton. Take a motorized raft trip or enjoy
a paddle trip and really get involved with the river. Other whitewater
rafting rivers in this region that flow into the Thompson are the Nicola
and the Nicoamen Rivers.

The
Clearwater River (High Country):

Clearwater,
is the gateway to British Columbia's fourth largest provincial park,
Wells Gray Park and a true adventure
playground. This wilderness paradise has it all including interesting
volcanic formations, splendid alpine meadows, calm lakes,
excellent fishing, and superb waterfalls. An exciting way to explore
this region is to take a rafting trip on the Clearwater River. The Clearwater
River starts in the park and rushes to join the North Thompson River
in the North Thompson Valley.

Clear,
rushing waters of the Clearwater River say it all. For hundreds of years,
the river has remained clear because as it flowed through volcanic rock,
silt was left behind in settling ponds upstream. This is an imposing
river offering volume, holes, waves, whirlpools and is graded a three
plus. A trip on the Clearwater will take you through lava formed canyons
and rapids such as the Saber Tooth.

Take a
motor powered trip or try paddle rafting with a group. The choice is
yours. There are rafting companies that specialize in one day trips,
while others offer two day excursions. Enjoy the excitement and exhilaration
of white water rafting, run the Clearwater River. High Country has other
rafting rivers with guided tours making it possible to experience the
different classes and thrills.

British
Columbia's longest river, the fifth longest in Canada, is the Fraser
River. Starting in the Rocky Mountains at Mount Robson, the Fraser River
stretches for 1,368 km (848 mi.) and flows into the Pacific Ocean. It
starts as a meandering waterway that eventually becomes a rushing river
picking up silt and accumulating volume as other rivers and streams
feed it.

At Prince
George, in central BC, the Fraser heads southward through the Cariboo's
Interior Plateau. Soon, the fast flowing waters make their way through
old volcanic rock, forming deep and narrow canyons
including the dramatic Fraser
Canyon. This is where the Fraser makes its way through a narrow
34 metre (99 foot) gorge, known as Hell's Gate.

The Fraser
Canyon is the section of river that offers the ultimate in river rafting.
Qualified tour operators take customers in motorized inflatable rafts
down river to run the rapids from Boston
Bar to Yale.
Rapids like Scuzzy Rock, China Bar and Hells Gate. This one day excursion
is open from May to the end of August offering thrilling and exhilarating
rides. See and feel first hand the energy of the rapids and whirlpools,
as the raft churns rushing downstream.

The Nahatlatch River, which flows into the Fraser, is another very popular
rafting river. The fury of white water on the Nahatlatch offers an exuberant
and thrilling ride, all under the control of experienced and knowledgeable
river raft operators.